Closure clip

ABSTRACT

A generally U-shaped closure clip open at one end thereof, said clip having a first arm and a second arm, said arms joined by an arcuate web, said first arm outwardly arced and terminating in an end facing said second arm, said second arm arced inwardly toward said first arm and terminating in an end facing said first arm.

[4 1 Sept. 30, 1975 CLOSURE CLIP [76] Inventor: Herbert Niedecker, Am Ellcrhang 6. 6243 Falkcnstein, Taunus, Germany [221 Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 430,289

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 10, 1973 German 2300980 [52] US. Cl. 24/305 W; 24/27 [51] Int. C1. B65D 67/02 [58] Field of Search 24/3015 W, 23 W, 20 W,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.514.335 7/1950 Owens ,1. .1 85/49 3.270.745 9/1966 Wood 128/325 3.463.156 8/1969 McDcrmott 24/305 W 3.640.317 2/1972 Panfili 24/20 W FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 199 686 8/1965 Germany 24/305 W Primary E.\'aminer-Paul R. Gilliam Assistant E.\aminerKcnncth J. Dorner Arlurnqv, Agent, or FirmBurgess, Dinklage & Sprung [57] ABSTRACT A generally U-shaped closure clip open at one end thereof, said clip having a first arm and a second arm. said arms joined by an arcuate web. said first arm outw wardly arced and terminating in an end facing said second arm, said second arm arccd inwardly toward said first arm and terminating in an end facing said first arm.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures Sept. 30,1975

US. Patent CLOSURE CLIP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a closure clip and especially to a closure clip adapted to be closed about a gathered portion of a wrapping material, e.g., the mouth of a bag, to close the bag. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a closure clip of a generally U- l DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART Numerous closure members have been heretofore suggested for closing off containers such as paper or plastic bags. For instance, it has long been known to use tie materials of the type containing a wire which is wrapped about the closure material and twisted. These have been known as twist-ems. Other closure members have been suggested for positively gathering the material at the top of a bag and effecting a closure. It has become desirable, however, to provide a closure clip which is suitable for use with a closing device in which the clip guide path has the shape of an arc of a circle. More particularly, it has become desirable to provide a closure clip which can be readily employed in a closure device which can position the closure clip about gathered material and can readily effect the closure by a cooperating movement of the opposed arms of the closure member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The long-felt desires in the art are satisfied by a generally U-shaped closure clip open at one end thereof, said clip having a first arm and a second arm, said arms joined by an arcuate web, said first arm outwardly arced and terminating in an end facing said second arm, said second arm arced inwardly toward said first arm, preferably terminating in an end facing the end of said first arm.

According to the present invention there is provided a closure clip which is adapted to be disposed about a gathered portion of a wrapping material such as the gathered material at the mouth of a bag. The closure clip of the present invention has opposed arm members which form extensions of a generally U-shaped clip. These arm members are both arced but, in contrast to prior art suggestions where the arm members would be oppositely arced, the arm members of the new clip are arced in the same direction, i.e., they are arced as if they were being arced about concentric circles. The closure is effected by virtue of the fact that the first arm, which is normally the longer of the two arms, is bent in the direction of the intended closure, and the opposed arm is bent in the direction of the first arm which is in the opposite direction to that in which closure will be effected. The ends of each arm are positioned in facing relationship to one another. In use, the clip is disposed in a mechanical closure member, such as a pliers, which during the closing operation deforms the arm whose arc is in the opposite direction towards the arm which is arced in the direction of closure. Simultaneously therewith, the arm which is arced in the direction of closure is brought over in securing relationship with the arm which had been arced in the opposite direction, whereby there is a substantial seal about the gathered material. The mechanism by which the closing takes place can be more readily understood from the description below. I

Preferably, the generally U-shaped closure clip of the present invention is provided with a first arm which has a length greater than the second arm. This first arm is generally outwardly arced so that it is bent in the direc- 0 tion in which a closure will be effected. The opposed or second arm is of somewhat shorter length and is bent inwardly toward the first arm. The direction of curvature of the arms is desirably the same. The arcs are generally the arcs of a circle and thus, the respective arcs can be thought of as having been formed by bending the respective arms about circular members where the first arm is bent about a circular member having a diameter greater than the diameter of the circular member about which the second arm is bent. Thus, the arms .are curved along approximately concentrically circular arcs which, in turn, correspond to the boundaries of a clip guide path having the shape of an arc of a circle.

In addition to the desirability that the arcs be unequal in length, it is preferred that the second or shorter arm have a more sharply curved end portion. It is thereby insured that at the end of the clip path extending over an arc of a circle, the arms will encounter the die of the closure member simultaneously. Finally, it is preferred that the ends of the arm be bent towards one another in order to insure that both arms will reliably encounter the die. In addition, this allows less force to be expended during the closing operation, and due to the engagement with the die, the arms are caused to roll more easily on the latter so that crushing is avoided.

The present clip can be employed in any closing device having a clip guide path in the shape of an arc of a circle which can accommodate the shape of the new clip. The clip is particularly suitable for hand closing implements in the form of a pliers, in which the clip path has this shape, because it is particularly suitable for a reliable gathering and closing operation which can easily be performed by hand.

The present clip has the additional advantage that the second or shorter arm is curved oppositely to the closing direction and has a greater closing force than it would have if the wall were straight or bent in the closing direction. Since it has a greater closing force against those forces which would tend to restore it to its original configuration, the clip can have a smaller cross section for the same closing force, or with the same cross section it has an even stronger and more reliable closure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 4 is a side elevation showing the utilization of the clip in a closing device in which the clip guide path has the shape of an arc of a circle.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT A specific embodiment of the clip of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings. Referring to such drawings, there is shown a'closure clip which is substantially U-shaped and has opposed arms 1 and 2 interconnected by an arcuate connecting web 3. Arms 1 and 2 are curved in the same manner. Thus, arm 1 is curved outwardly and can be considered to be bent in the direction in which clip closure is intended. Arm 2, on the other hand, in its major portion has the same are as arm 1, but due to its position on the closure clip, this arm is positioned inwardly. The arms lie as arcs of circles having radii R and R from a common center point 4. The inner arm, which is consequently more sharply curved, is shorter than the outer arm 1. Thus, the secant of the arcs of arms 1 and 2 differs. The ends and 6 of the arms are bent towards one another in order to facilitate the closing of the clip. The web 3 joins the arms 1 and 2 and is of an approximately semicircular configuration in order to provide optimum adaptation to a bag gather 10.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show how the clip is disposed about the gather. Note that the arms of the clip move past one another while each inner arcuate surface bears against the gather material. By using such a construction, the arc of arm 2 urges the gather towards the arc of arm 1. By crimping the arms 1 and 2 by use of the device of FIG. 4, the arm 1 is brought towards arm 2, and thus the gather material is secured between arms 1 and 2 tightly. Depending upon the thickness of the wrapping gather, the arms 1 and 2 lie to a greater or lesser extent against the periphery of the gather.

FIG. 4 shows a closing tool for closing the clip about a gather in which a clip guide path extends in the formof an arc of a circle as shown by the upwardly directed arrow therein.

A more complete disclosure thereof is found in my copending application Ser. Nos. P 23 00 993.0 and P 23 18 125.1 filed concurrently herein. Arm members are provided which are pivotably connected to a knee or cam control which moves a punch plate having a boundary member. The punch plate carried the U- shaped clip in a generally circular arcuate path into the housing area facing the curved die 11. In that area the gather 10 of a packaging envelope is disposed beneath a gather holding means. Rotation of the punch plate effects deformation of the arms when they impinge against the die.

Referring to FIG. 4, arms 1 and 2 of the clip are engaged by a socket 7 in a stamp plate 8. During the gathering and closing operation, the stamp plate 8 turns about its center 9 and thus first guides the clip around a gather 10 of a wrapping on the guide path in the form of an arc ofa circle. The arms 1 and 2 of the clip, which are unequal in length and which have inwardly bent ends 5 and 6, then encounter a die 11' so that the arms 1 and 2 move past one another and are applied around the wrapping gather 10.

From the construction it is seen that the end 5 of arm 2 is positioned so that it is arced in the direction of closure. However, the main portion of arm 2 is arced inwardly or in an opposite direction to that of closure. On the other hand, the end 6 of arm 1 is arced generally in the direction of closure.

It should be realized that the clip of the present invention can be constructed of virtually any material, and there is particularly contemplated ferrous and nonferrous metals and their alloys, especially steel and stainless steel. Moreover, the closure clips of the present invention can be made of wires of various cross sec tional shapes, provided that the arms can be deformed by a pliers member to exert a positive locking and closure effect about the gather of material.

What is claimed is:

1. A generally U-shaped closure clip opened at one end thereof and adapted upon closure to form a tight spiral with the ends overlapping slightly in adjacent planes, said clip having a first arm and a second arm joined by an arcuate web, the main parts of said arms adjacent to the arcuate web being arced in the same direction like parts of concentric circles and the free ends of said arms being bent toward one another, the first arm being longer than the second arm and having a greater radius of curvature than the radius of curvature 

1. A generally U-shaped closure clip opened at one end thereof and adapted upon closure to form a tight spiral with the ends overlapping slightly in adjacent planes, said clip having a first arm and a second arm joined by an arcuate web, the main parts of said arms adjacent to the arcuate web being arced in the same direction like parts of concentric circles and the free ends of said arms being bent toward one another, the first arm being longer than the second arm and having a greater radiuS of curvature than the radius of curvature of said second arm. 